ISLAMABAD   -   Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said yesterday that Pakistan’s geostrategic location offered an ideal trade and transit hub for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) region. Addressing the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, Dar highlighted the significance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for regional connectivity and economic integration. He reiterated Pakistan’s firm adherence to the SCO Charter and explained its priorities as Chair of SCO Council of Heads of Government including promotion of connectivity, transport links, youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, and enhanced practical cooperation among SCO states.

Ishaq Dar called for upholding international law and the UN Charter with special emphasis on peaceful settlement of longstanding disputes in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. He warned against bloc-based and confrontational geo-politics and advocated for a multipolar world grounded in multilateralism.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized combating terrorism through collective and cooperative approaches by addressing its root causes. He urged rejection of myopic and self-serving interests to use the mantra of terrorism for political gains. Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm call for an unconditional and urgent ceasefire in Gaza and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance. He also emphasized the need to realize two-State solution for durable peace and stability. Dar reiterated Pakistan’s firm adherence to the SCO Charter and the “Shanghai Spirit” standing for mutual trust and respect for shared prosperity. In his statement, the deputy prime minister warned against bloc-based or confrontational geopolitics and advocated for a multipolar world firmly grounded in multilateralism. He explained Pakistan’s priorities as current Chair of SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) which included promoting connectivity, transport links, youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, and enhanced practical cooperation among SCO member states.

The deputy prime minister called for upholding international law and the UN Charter, emphasizing the people’s right to self-determination and peaceful settlement of longstanding disputes in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. He stressed the need to combat the menace of terrorism through collective and cooperative approaches including by addressing its root causes. He urged rejection of myopic and self-serving interests to use the mantra of terrorism for political gains. Ishaq Dar strongly condemned barbaric Israeli onslaught in Gaza, which had resulted in killings of over 35,000 innocent civilians, mostly women and children. He reiterated Pakistan’s firm call for an unconditional and urgent ceasefire and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance. He also emphasized need to realize two-state solution for durable peace and stability.

On the Afghanistan situation, he called on the international community to meaningfully engage with the Interim Afghan Government (IAG) for the genuine economic and development needs of Afghanistan and urged the IAG to ensure that Afghan soil was not used for terrorism against any country.

Highlighting the climate change, the deputy prime minister called for collective efforts to address the challenge as any failure in this regard would put global security at stake.

He said despite contributing less than one percent of the global emissions, Pakistan suffered huge economic and life losses consequent to the climate change-induced floods which necessitated capacity building of developing countries to overcome the issue. Dar told the gathering that Pakistan fully supported the reform process in the SCO which should also feature an enhanced motoring and implementation capacity in the security and economic field.

The deputy prime minister started his remarks with condolence over the sad demise of Iranian President Dr Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian foreign minister and others sympathised with the bereaved families and Iranian people.

He also paid tribute to their services for the promotion of regional cooperation and reinforcement of Pak-Iran relationships.